Srinagar, Dec 25 (NationPress) The minimum temperature has continued to decrease throughout Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with Srinagar city experiencing a frigid minus 7.3 degrees Celsius.

Officials from the Meteorological (MeT) Department reported that Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded minimum temperatures of minus 6.6 and minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Jammu city recorded a temperature of 7.1, Katra town 6.7, Batote 0.7, Banihal minus 1.3, and Bhaderwah minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

The MeT officials indicated that the weather is expected to remain unpredictable until the first week of January, with light rainfall anticipated in the Jammu division and overcast skies expected on December 28.

According to the MeT officials, there will likely be no significant change in the weather conditions in J&K over the next 10 to 15 days.

As the 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ commenced on December 21, extreme cold has firmly established its hold over the Kashmir Valley.

The chill is exacerbated by cold winds from snow-covered mountains, alongside sub-zero temperatures in the plains.

Water taps often freeze in the mornings, making roads slippery, and water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams, and springs remain partially frozen.

Boatmen on Dal Lake and other lakes in the valley struggle to navigate through the frozen waters, breaking through sheets of ice.

Kashmiris use a traditional firepot woven from willow called the ‘Kangri’, which is placed under a loose tweed overgarment known as the ‘Pheran’, to provide immediate warmth during the harsh winter. Due to frequent power shortages in J&K, reliance on electric appliances for heating and boiling water has become precarious, as unscheduled power outages have become a common occurrence for the cold-affected residents.